Clavicle brace



March 10, 1970 K. F. HALL CLAVICLE BRACE Filed Sept. 1, 1967 INVENTOR.KENNETH F. HALL FIG. 6

A TTORNE Y6 United States Patent 3,499,441 CLAVICLE BRACE Kenneth F.Hall, 9205 W. 73rd Place, Arvada, Colo. 80002 Filed Sept. 1, 1967, Ser.No. 665,123 Int. Cl. A611. /03, 13/12, 5/02 US. Cl. 12887 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Clavicle brace including shoulder piecesadapted to bear against shoulders of wearer having flexible bandsextending from shoulder pieces to front pad member and force applyingstrap members extending from shoulder pieces oppositely of bandsdiagonally across portions of back and around sides of wearer and joinedto front pad member to apply equally distributed forces backwardly,outwardly and upwardly on shoulders of wearer to relieve forces onclavicle bone. Shoulder pieces having cut-out portions for ventilationof axilla and sleeve-like portions fitting over upper arm of wearer.

This invention relates to body supports and more particularly toclavicle braces suitable for positioning. and relieving the usualpressure on the fractured or injured clavicle bones.

The function of the clavicle bones in the human body is to hold theshoulders up and away from the chest. These clavicle bones are joined atone end to the breast bone (sternum) and are joined at the other end tothe shoulder blades (scapula). These clavicle bones are thus the onlyconnection between the shoulders and the trunk of the body and thereforeare frequently fractured. Displacement of clavicle bone fractures isreduced by pulling shoulders upward, outward and backward andmaintaining this position. Suitable support braces for applying upward,outward and backward forces to the shoulders allow fractured fragmentsto unite and heal by removing pressure and eliminating excess motion.

Braces presently in use for supporting fractured or injured claviclebones have several disadvantages which include the use of straps whichextend under the axilla causing skin irritation and preventing properbody ventilation. Other forms of braces pull the arm down so as toimpede cleaning and ventilation thereby producing odor and the like.Frequently these braces are bulky and interfere with usual wearingapparel.

Briefly stated a clavicle brace embodying features of the presentinvention applies upward, outward and backward forces to the shouldersof the wearer and maintains this position to allow fractured claviclebone fragments to unite with a minimum of body discomfort andinterference with the usual body apparel.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple anddurable clavicle brace suitable for use by men, women and children,which does not interfere with their usual wearing apparel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clavicle brace whichwill apply substantially equal pressures and upward, outward andbackward forces on the shoulders and leaves the axilla of the weareropen for cleaning and ventilation so as to prevent body odor and skinirritation.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a claviclebrace which eliminates belts or straps extending through the axilla sothat there is no pressure or pulling forces applied through the axilla.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a novelclavicle brace which may be easily adjusted for 'ice various sizes andshapes of persons and which may be easily applied and removed.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a clavicle brace disposed on a malebody with the direction of forces applied to the shoulders by the braceindicated by arrows;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing theconstruction of the shoulder pieces;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1 showing theresilient edges of the shoulder pieces;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the brace shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of an alternative arrangement for thestraps which cross at the back of the wearer; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a clavicle brace embodying featuresof the present invention disposed on a female body.

Referring now to the drawings, the shoulder and chest portion of a malebody 2 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 for purposes of description whichincludes left and right side clavicle bones 3 and 4 joined at theirinner ends to the breast bone 5 and their outer ends to left and rightside shoulder blades or scapula 6 and 7, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 14 the clavicle brace disposed on the body 2 comprisesleft and right side shoulder pieces 8 and 9 preferably formed of acanvas layer of material 11 such as that used in preparing orthopedicappliances which is lined with a layer of soft, resilient material 12such as foam rubber (FIG. 2) throughout all body contact surfaces andpressure points to prevent any localized pressure on the shoulders.These shoulder pieces are of sufficient width to extend substantiallyabove and substantially below the shoulders and preferably include lowerleft and right side sleeve portions 13 and 14 which fit around the upperarm of the wearer with knit-like cuffs 15 and 16 for holding theshoulder pieces in position on the body.

Forward portions of the left and right side shoulder pieces are narrowedand left and right side bands 17 and 18 are interconnected at one end tothe narrowed forward portions of associated shoulder pieces and aredetachably joined thereto as by buckles 19 and 21 attached to the uppercorners of a front pad member 22 through which the free end of theassociated band extends. The pad member 22 is generally oblong inshaping for the male and when disposed on the chest of the wearer and ofa dimension which leaves the breast area of the body open. This padmember is also preferably lined with a soft resilient material such asfoam rubber or soft cotton for contacting the body surface. Bands 17 and18 are flexible or elastic and preferably of ribbed type construction soas to permit expansion and contraction of the chest of the wearer duringbreathing with the belt and buckle connection permitting lengthadjustment to accommodate persons having chests of different sizes.

Rear portions of the shoulder pieces are narrowed and left and rightside straps 23 and 24 are interconnected at one end to the narrowed rearportions of associated shoulder pieces and extend diagonally across aportion of the back and around the rib cage substantially below and inspaced relation with the axilla on each side of the wearer. Side straps23 and 24 are detachably joined to the pad member 22 as by buckles 25and 26 attached to the lower corner portions thereof. To apply therequired outwardly, upwardly and rearwardly directed forces to theshoulder pieces these straps may extend through an intermediate member27 which may be triangular as shown or circular or oblong. As shown thetriangular shaped member is mounted at its apex on a pad member 29engaging the body surface with a strap 30. The side straps 23 and 24overlap one of the legs of the triangular member and return along thesame side of the body as shown in FIG. 3 or in the alternative they maycross at the center of the back and return along the opposite side ofthe body as shown in FIG. 4.

In this manner, the straps when secured tightly on the pad member serveto apply pulling forces back and slightly upwardly, outwardly on theshoulders of the wearer to relieve the normal forces applied to theclavicle bone and eliminate excess body motion. The direction of thesepulling forces as applied to the shoulders are indicated by arrows inFIGS. 1 and 2 and extend from the upper connection on the pad memberrearwardly over the shoulders and back diagonally across the shouldersand thereby maintain the clavicle bones in a proper position for healingwhen fractured. Rib-like reinforcing portions 28 are preferably providedon each of the shoulder pieces which extend over the shoulders in spacedrelation and extend at each end toward the associated straps and bandsalong these lines of force to direct the pulling forces in anessentially equal distribution over the shoulders.

Each of the shoulder pieces is provided with forward and rearwardcut-out portions 31 and 32 adjoining the axilla which provide for axillaVentilation of the wearer. The edges of the shoulder pieces which formthese cut-out portions are preferably resilient as by folding the edge33 of the canvas material folder over an elastic band 34 as is shown inFIG. 3 so that the shoulder pieces are held firmly on the body adjoiningand spaced from the axilla.

For use by the female body as illustrated in FIG. 6 a clavicle bracesimilar to that above shown and described is provided with extendedcut-out portions 35 and 36 of the shoulder pieces disposed forwardly ofthe body and the pad member being provided with cut-out portions 37 and38 along its sides to accommodate and leave open the breast portion ofthe body and not interfere with the usual apparel associated therewith.The upper corners of the pad member are shown disposed inwardly of thelower corners thereof. While a belt and buckle connection between theforward bands and the upper corners of the front pad member has not beenshown in the female brace of FIG. 6, this may be done in thisarrangement in the manner as shown in FIG. 1 to provide adjustment forchests of various sizes.

While the present invention has been described with reference toparticular brace structure, there is no intent to limit the spirit andscope of the precise details except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clavicle brace comprising left and right side shoulder piecesadapted to bear against the shoulders of a wearer, said shoulder piecesbeing of sufficient width to extend substantially above andsubstantially below the shoulders, left and right side elastic bandsinterconnected at one end of the left and right side the front endportions of said shoulder pieces, a front pad member detachably joiningthe other ends of said bands in spaced relation forwardly of the wearer,left and right side straps interconnected between rearward portions ofassociated left and right side shoulder pieces and in spaced relation toa lower portion of said pad member and adapted to extend diagonallyacross a portion of the back and around the rib cage and in spacedrelation and below with the axilla on each side of the wearer forapplying forces along said shoulder pieces so as to draw the shouldersof the wearer backwardly, outwardly and upwardly, each said shoulderpiece having spaced cut-out portions for providing axilla ventilationfor the wearer.

2. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shoulder piecesinclude sleeve-like portions for fitting around upper arm of the wearer.

3. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bands aredetachably joined to the pad member by a belt and buckle connection foradjustment to selected band lengths to accommodate bodies of varioussizes.

4. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said straps aredetachably joined to the pad member by a belt and buckle connection foradjustment to selected strap lengths to accommodate bodies of varioussizes.

5. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shoulder piecesinclude a soft cushion-like material formed on its body contactingundersurface portions.

6. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shoulder piecesinclude a resilient edge defining said cutout portions.

7. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said straps extenddiagonally across the back of the wearer and fold over a portion of acommon intermediate member and around the rib cage on the same side ofthe body.

8. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 1 wherein said straps extenddiagonally across the back and around the rib cage on the opposite sideof the body.

9. A clavicle brace comprising left and right side shoulder piecesformed of a canvas-like material having a soft body contactingundersurface adapted to bear against the shoulder of a wearer, saidshoulder pieces being of suffi cient width to extend substantially abovethe shoulders and having sleeve-like portions for fitting around upperarm of the wearer in a snug relationship substantially below theshoulders, left and right side elastic bands interconnected at one endof the left and right side of the front end portions of said shoulderpieces, a generally oblong shaped front pad member, means for connectinga free end of each band of adjoining upper corners of said pad member atselected points along said bands to accommodate bodies of various sizes,left and right side straps interconnected between rearward portions ofassociated left and right side shoulder pieces means for connecting thefree end of each strap at adjoining lower corners of said pad member atselected points along said straps to accommodate bodies of varioussizes, said straps adapted to extend diagonally across a portion of theback and around the rib cage and in spaced relation and below with theaxilla on each side of the wearer for applying forces along saidshoulder pieces so as to draw the shoulders of the wearer backwardly,outwardly and upwardly, each said shoulder piece having resilient edgedportions defining spaced cut-out portions for providing axillaventilation for the wearer.

10. A clavicle brace as set forth in claim 9 wherein said connectingmeans includes a buckle mounted at each corner of the pad member throughwhich associated end portions of said straps and bands extend.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,298 9/1948 Peterson et al.128-87 FOREIGN PATENTS 49,636 5/ 1939 France.

ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner JOHN D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 2 44

